BIOGRAPHY

Tarver was born as Mamie Mae Murphy in Abbeville, Henry County, Alabama, USA, on 18 April 1907. Her parents were Franklin and Nancy Murphy, an African-American father and a white mother. She had four siblings: Atlas Murphy, Leona Butts, Moselle Drake and Lodelle Hawks. Her family moved to Newark, New Jersey when she was eight years old. Growing up, she attended Bethel Baptist Church in Newark.

On 30 May 1922, at the age of 15, she married Peter Tarver. The couple would end up having nine children: Peter, James, Geraldine, James, Margaret, George, Nancy, Eric and Harold. She was a domestic worker and a caterer. In 1955, she was featured in Ladies’ Home Companion magazine for her hors d’oeuvres. Her husband passed away in 1980.

Mamie Tarver passed away in Cranford, New Jersey, USA, on 19 December 2017, at the age of 110. She was survived by her son, Harold, 22 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and unspecified number of great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by LongeviQuest on 23 June 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Mamie Mae Tarver” – G.G. Woody Funeral Home, LLC

* “One of N.J.’s oldest residents, beloved ‘prayer mother,’ dies at age 110” – NJ.com, 22 December 2017

GALLERY